Trowbridge Town Hall
Trowbridge's historic Town Hall will be one of the key projects to benefit from significant investment from the government's Future High Streets Fund, securing its role in the heart of the town centre.
The Town Hall, a Grade II listed building is owned by Wiltshire Council and run by Trowbridge Town Hall Trust, an independent charity, as a culture and civic hub.
In its early days, it housed a library, courts, cells, and a magnificent ballroom. The local community came here for dances, concerts, and performances.
Since 2012, the Town Hall has been run by a charity, the Trowbridge Town Hall Trust, reanimating the historic building as the buzzing creative heart of Trowbridge, welcoming around 50,000 visits a year through its historic doors.
The Town Hall has been allocated a significant proportion of the £16,347,056 awarded to Wiltshire Council, to refurbish and restore the building. The investment will maximise the capacity for the building to host an exciting and vibrant programme of community-led cultural and social activities for the people of Trowbridge, enabling it to fulfil its potential as a landmark asset for the town.
Watch our brief video 'Trowbridge Town Hall through the ages (opens new window)' which showcases various historic images as well as the artist's visualisations and proposed floor plan for the refurbished building.
See Future High Streets Fund Trowbridge for more information.
In August 2023, the Town Hall commenced an extensive 18-month refurbishment programme.
The aim is for the Trowbridge Town Hall to become a major creative and community hub for north-west Wiltshire, consisting of custom designed performance and activity spaces, recording studios and a licensed café with refurbished spaces for a wide range of community activities from yoga classes to toddler groups.
It is anticipated that the venue will reopen to the public in Summer 2025.
Regular information and updates will be posted on this page, including newsletters. You can also find some FAQs below, but if you have any additional questions or queries please email FHSFTownHall@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).
Trowbridge Town Hall Trust's website also contains helpful information on their activities.
The Town Hall Trowbridge (opens new window)
Planning applications
The planning application reference numbers related to this project are:
- PL/2022/08637 (refurbishment of the Town Hall)
- PL/2022/08663 (listed building consent)
- PL/2023/10738 (listed building consent)
Search for an application: Planning & Building Control Public Register (opens new window) input the numbers on the planning portal to see the full applications.
Copying and pasting the reference numbers into the search box doesn't always work so if that's the case please input them manually.
Trowbridge Town Hall is owned by Wiltshire Council and since 2012 it has been run by the Trowbridge Town Hall Trust, an independent charity.
In September 2022, Wiltshire Council's Cabinet confirmed that the Trust are to be the end user of the Town Hall, when the extensive refurbishment works are complete. (View Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday 27 September 2022, 10.00 am | Wiltshire Council, agenda item 87). The Trust will be granted a 125-year lease, to allow them to ensure sustainable use of the building in the long-term. This means its future as a vibrant hub of activity in Trowbridge town centre is secure.
Wiltshire Council will continue to work with the Trust to make sure they are in a position to be able to take over the building, ahead of the lease being granted.
Take a peak at these clips to see what has been happening and what works we will be carrying out next:
We are regularly publishing newsletters throughout the construction period to provide you with the latest news and developments on Trowbridge Town Hall.
Trowbridge Town Hall Trust was established following a public meeting in 2012. As an independent charity, its aim is to restore the historic Town Hall for the people of the town, creating a home for culture and community.
The Trust has a board of 12 trustees, two of whom are elected annually from the membership. It is free to become a member of the Town Hall Trust.
The Trust's vision is for a creative, confident, and cohesive community. Its purpose is to secure the future of the historic Town Hall to fulfil the original pledge that the building "benefits the inhabitants of the town of Trowbridge forever."
The aim of the Future High Streets Fund is to renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that drives growth, improves experience, and ensures future sustainability.
Applications were invited for the Government fund, and Trowbridge was one of 100 towns shortlisted. In December 2020, Wiltshire Council was provisionally awarded £16,347,056 for Trowbridge. In May 2021 this funding was formally awarded.
Wiltshire Council worked collaboratively with several stakeholders, including Trowbridge Town Council, the Chamber of Commerce, as well as conducting wider public engagement to find projects that could best benefit Trowbridge's high street aligned to the criteria in the fund.
Significant refurbishment of the Town Hall is required to prevent it becoming unusable in the short term. Without investment, the Town Hall is at risk of closure and if it were to close, it would be difficult to reopen.
The money invested into the Town Hall will be used to restore the building, safeguarding its long-term sustainability and maximising the capacity for the building to host an exciting and vibrant programme of cultural, community and social activities within the heart of Trowbridge town centre.
The money will be invested into several areas including:
- Repairs - Essential repairs will be made to the outside of the building, including repairs to the external stonework and the roof, ensuring the Town Hall's place at the heart of the town, and its heritage, is maintained.
- Community - The aim is to return the historic Great Hall to its original dimensions, enabling the ability to hold concerts and events for up to 500 people. There will be additional smaller spaces in the building for community and cultural activity.
- Improve access - Access to, and around the building, will be improved to make it more accessible to those with disabilities.
- Maintenance - The building will be upgraded to achieve lower maintenance and running costs, with air source heating and ventilation and LED lighting throughout to make it an exemplar of environmentally-friendly development.
The additional projects being supported by the Future High Streets Fund include:
- improving accessibility, connectivity, and wayfinding in the town centre
- Offering grants to businesses to encourage the longer-term occupation of vacant commercial premises, creating a more diverse offer in the town centre
- enhancements to the River Biss bank to enable safer pedestrian access to the river front and under the Town Bridge
For further information on these projects see Future High Streets Fund Trowbridge.
Yes. It will be both highly disruptive and costly to keep the Town Hall (or discreet parts of it) open during the renovations.
During the closure, the Trust will be delivering two major community outreach programmes, one of which will build on the success of its recent collaboration with the National Theatre, and the other which will identify and develop the musical talent among the town's younger generation. In addition, work has already begun to deliver a Mid-Summer Festival for 2024, following on from the success of the 2023 event that attracted nearly 3,500 people to the Town Park.
Anyone interested in participating should visit the Trust's website: The Town Hall Trowbridge (opens new window).
The last day of business before closure was Saturday 29 July 2023.
Located at the rear of the Town Hall and adjacent to the Trowbridge Park the Sensory Garden is a community garden for the recreation and education of people in Trowbridge.
The Town Hall Trust has a close working relationship with the charity the Friends of the Sensory Garden and will continue to work closely with them during the renovation of the Town Hall to ensure that the impact upon tranquillity and use of the garden is fully mitigated.
It is extremely unlikely visits will be allowed as this is dependent on whether there is a safe point in in the construction programme where part of the site can be made available for visits to see how the works are progressing. However, we will ensure regular photographs and other imagery of the works are shared as widely as possible throughout the construction period.
We will work closely with neighbouring businesses and residents during the renovation works and will endeavour to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.
We are anticipating the Town Hall will reopen Summer 2025.
Trowbridge Town Hall Trust is the preferred end user and once the restoration is complete, the aim is for Wiltshire Council to look to complete a Community Asset Transfer meaning the building will be transferred to the Trust on a 125-year lease. This will secure the Town Hall's place at the heart of the community for many years to come.
The role of the high street has always evolved, and now is no different. The high street needs to adapt to the changing needs of its residents, where people want access to more leisure, cultural and community facilities alongside a retail offering.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a significant impact upon the high street, speeding up a trend towards retail moving online and consequently reducing footfall in towns across the country.
The new and improved Town Hall will once again become the heart of the town centre. The new offering will attract new visitors to Trowbridge's high street during the day and help reinvigorate the night-time economy.
This investment is only the start of the regeneration of Trowbridge and wherever possible every opportunity will be taken to secure additional funding to deliver further significant improvements to Trowbridge's town centre.
The Town Hall is yours. By restoring the Town Hall, its future is in the heart of the town will be secured.
The Town Hall is somewhere you can use for a wide variety of activities and where you can get involved in your local community. In the Town Hall, you can learn a new skill, meet friends, start a business, join a choir, see your favourite bands, or enjoy an art exhibition the possibilities are endless.
It is a place where you get to decide what happens and can work with the Town Hall Trust to make it happen. The Town Hall Trust exists to provide the space and support for each person in our town, empowering and enabling you to live your fullest life. And of course, most importantly have fun!
Restoring this iconic building, will ensure that it remains at the heart of the town for many years to come, and will be a beacon of civic pride, as it was first envisaged over 130 years ago.
If you have an idea on how you want to use the Town Hall, whether it is a group, a class or even setting up a business get in touch with The Town Hall Trust's Director Alan Wright (info@trowbridgetownhall.com (opens new window)).
Yes, absolutely. Trowbridge Town Hall Trust could not operate without the support of their amazing volunteers.
There are around 50 volunteers at the Town Hall who ensure that it runs smoothly. The support of volunteers will be crucial to support activities in the temporary venue during the restoration work and once the Town Hall reopens.
Trowbridge Town Hall Trust are always on the lookout for new volunteers, if you are interested, visit The Town Hall Trowbridge: Get involved (opens new window).
Wiltshire Council and Trowbridge Town Hall Trust will continue to share updates on progress throughout the project and are committed to being transparent throughout the renovations.
There are several ways that you can get involved:
- become a member of the Town Hall - find out more at The Town Hall Trowbridge: Get involved (opens new window)
- become a volunteer - find out more at The Town Hall Trowbridge: Get involved (opens new window)
- keep an eye on Trowbridge Town Hall Trust's website or follow them on social media - X: Trowbridge Town Hall (opens new window), Instagram: Trowbridge Town Hall (opens new window), or Facebook: Trowbridge Town Hall (opens new window)
Wiltshire Council's Cabinet has confirmed that the Town Hall Trust are to be the end user of the Town Hall, when these works are complete, and will be granted a 125-year lease, to allow them to ensure sustainable use of the building in the long term. We will continue to work with the Trust to make sure they are in a position to be able to take over the building, ahead of the lease being granted.
The scaffolding was erected to repair the building's façade following reports to Wiltshire Council about loose masonry from the building occupier, which was quickly assessed as a potential health and safety issue. We took decisive action to conduct a thorough survey of the façade, leading to necessary repairs and cleaning. This ensured the scaffolding was fully utilised while in place, addressing the issue comprehensively and efficiently.
We considered whether it was practical and cost effective for the scaffolding to remain in place for the main refurbishment programme. However, the scaffolding installed for the masonry repairs and cleaning would not have been suitable for the more complex requirements of this refurbishment project. Also, the ongoing and indefinite hire cost associated with retaining the scaffolding outweighed the cost of reassembly. As a result, the scaffolding was removed.
Once Beard was in contract, they erected the scaffolding around the Town Hall so they could access all parts of the building and carry out the refurbishment works safely.
This is a great project and we look forward to providing a Town Hall that has a new look, a new purpose and is once again at the heart of the community in Trowbridge in 2025.
Park Road will need to be shut for short periods of time. These will be during working hours only. We will be engaging with neighbouring residents/businesses nearer the time of anticipated road closures and ensure sufficient notice is given of our plans.
Expected working days are Monday to Friday (some weekend working may be required). Expected working hours 8am to 5pm (some out of hours working will be required to minimise disruption to neighbouring businesses and some night time road closures will be required to enable some works to be carried out.
One of the bus stops on Market Place will need to be relocated a short distance away on Silver Street. The second bus stop will be removed, and services re-located. These will be advertised accordingly by the bus companies.
A temporary bus shelter is being installed in January 2024.
Materials are being purchased from local suppliers where possible. Many materials have been specified following consultation with heritage and conservation officers.
Any spare materials following completion will be retained. Every precaution has been taken to ensure ongoing future supply where possible.
Beard commits to supporting the local community through the following:
- raising a sum of £5,000 for a local charity to be provided prior to completion of the project
- gifting 30 hours of volunteer time to a local charity
Wooden hoarding will be used to separate the public from any construction activity. Later in the year the hoarding will be covered in vibrant graphics to minimise any negative visual impact.
Wiltshire Council is keen to support local businesses, and to share the process the ratepayers can follow to appeal against the rateable value. The rateable value is not set by the council but by the Valuation Office Agency who are part of HMRC. Remedial works are not an automatic reason for any reduction in rateable value, evidence will have to be submitted with an appeal to demonstrate how the works have impacted upon trade. It may take time to gather the evidence required by the Valuation Office Agency and typically appeals are often resolved many months after the remedial works have ended. Refer to the Business rates section of the Wiltshire Council website to find out more as to what support may be available.
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